Single Oscar?

This is a discussion on Single Oscar? within the Cichlids forums, part of the Freshwater and Tropical Fish category; -->
I have an 80 Gallon tank (Was informed by the pet store that they believe it is a 90 lol). The Ph is and ...

I have an 80 Gallon tank (Was informed by the pet store that they believe it is a 90 lol). The Ph is and has been at 7 for weeks the Hardness is reading 8 currently. No Ammonia. My question is... Is it possible to have two Oscars live happily in a tank this size? I had a 55 Gallon and for several Years had two Oscars and a Pleco (about 14 inches) in it that seemed very content and healthy. I ended up taking the fish to a pet store when I moved.
My current tank is cycled and at the moment has several gold fish in it. There purpose was only for cycling. I saw a rather large Oscar at a good store near here and was wondering if I should get him or go with two of the smaller ones they carry. I just want to make sure he is content on his own as well. Although I plan on adding a Pleco soon as well. I just seem to like the Plecos. Would love to have a Green Terror tank but there are none around where I live to be had.

Well a 55 gallon tank is the absolute bare minumum for ONE oscar. For a fish that can and sometimes do grow to over 14inches they need plenty of room to roam. 75 gallons is the preferred minimum. I wouldn't stuff two oscars in a 80 gallon IMO, it's just not big enough. You could add smaller tankmates like angels(obviously large enough to not be eatin), firemouth cichlids, maybe a convict, severums, etc. Don't get a super huge species of pleco either. Oscars have a huge bioload and need tons of filteration and water changes. I don't know how long or how big your previous oscars were in that 55 but it was entirely too small. Especially with a 14in pleco.

I believe I have heavy filtration. I'm using a magnum 250 with a pro 30 bio wheel and an emperor 400 as well. Once I get the tubing I will have my Turbo twist hooked up as well. Ive never used one before so I am not sure of the benefits it has. I have another Mangum I could use as well but I would need to modify the hood for it to fit.

The filteration looks solid but could you maybe give me the turnover rate? If you can't it's fine. Oscars are kind of pushovers. I don't see them as any kind of bully. Smaller cichlids should be fine with him. If you wanted a soewhat big cichlid with him a severum is a good choice and I believe you have enough room. A small bichir or catfish would make a great companion for the bottom half of the tank also.

from the sounds of things you know what your doing if you had all that in your former 55 gal, if i were you i wouldnt hesitate for what you plan to do here. just keep up on your w/c and watch for aggression if you add anything else besides oscars and plecos.

Total flow rate is about 650 per hour. Another 175 will be going through the light. The Oscar I was getting was gone so a friend is dropping one off later. (Pet Stores are at least 50 miles from here.) With my 55 I was doing quite frequent water changes but they worked out well. Thank you both for replying. I will keep you posted as to what happens.

Everything sounds great! Oh and sometimes it's not a matter of filteration it's just a matter of space. On another forum someone actually kept like 12 half grown africans in a ten gallon and thaught it was okay. He was going on and on about how he has like 1000gph and he does like 50% water changes weekly. It wasn't enough room. Sometimes people forget that fish don't just need clean water but the need room to ctually swim lol.